West adds capacity for Daikyo Crystal Zenith syringe system
Provides space for producing 20 million units annually
West Pharmaceutical Services of Arizona, US is preparing to increase its manufacturing capacity for the Daikyo Crystal Zenith 1mL syringe system. Suitable for biopharmaceutical drug packaging and delivery, the company says the Crystal Zenith overcomes problems inherent in glass syringes, such as breakage and glass delamination.
West is converting 32,000ft2 of existing space to include ISO 7 (Class 10,000) cleanrooms for automated manufacturing, microbiological and functional testing laboratories, and additional climate controlled and monitored warehouse space. Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011.
The additional cleanroom space within West’s Scottsdale facility will provide room for producing up to 20 million units annually. The facility will also handle release of other ready-to-use Crystal Zenith systems such as vials and bulk drug containers.
‘We found a high level of interest in the Crystal Zenith insert needle syringe system during its launch at a customer open house in Scottsdale last October,’ said Donald Morel, chairman and ceo of West Pharmaceutical Services.
‘The renovation project will give us the space for additional sophisticated injection moulding technologies required for manufacturing Crystal Zenith syringes.’
West will be carrying out customer stability trials and anticipates scale-up as customers acknowledge the benefits of this system.
Daikyo Crystal Zenith is a cyclic olefin polymer developed by West's Japanese partner Daikyo Seiko.